Own goal sends Middlesbrough back to top of Championship table

Jayden Bogle’s own-goal six minutes from time allowed Middlesbrough to sneak a 1-1 draw with Derby County and go top of the second tier Championship on Saturday.

Middlesbrough’s stay at the top may be brief with previous table-toppers Leeds United, Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion due to kick-off later and all would go above ‘Boro if they win.

Derby themselves are just two points off ‘Boro in a table where just seven points separates first from 13th placed Wigan.

Derby, though, could feel aggrieved it is not them who took over at the top as their opponents failed to muster a single shot on target.

Frank Lampard’s Derby side — who had claimed the scalps of promotion rivals Sheffield United and West Brom in the past week — showed all the enterprise.

They merited going in front in the 19th minute through an own-goal by Middlesbrough captain George Friend.

However, they were unable to put away any of their other chances allowing the hosts back in to share the points.

“I’m disappointed to drop two points really,” said Derby defender Fikayo Tomori, who is on loan from Lampard’s former club Chelsea.

“For us to get a point — we have to be happy — but conceding late like that, we wanted three.”

Friend was perhaps the most relieved player on the pitch come the final whistle.

“You can’t call it an important point yet, but come the end of the season it could be,” he said.

Only the top two sides at the end of the regular season are guaranteed promotion to the lucrative Premier League, with the next four teams taking part in a series of play-off matches to determine which club gains the third and last promotion place.